Genuine readiness to suffer thins out the number of true Christians from the ranks of professing believers; it eliminates those whose walk goes no further than a cheap profession. A person who looks into the crowded sanctuaries of Christendom today and finds multitudes who flock after the Word might wonder why ministers say that this company of Christians is such a small one, and he might think that they who say such things cannot see the forest for the trees. This very situation made one of the disciples question Christ: 'Lord, are there few that be saved?' (Luke 13:23).

At that time Christ 'went through the cities and villages, teaching, and journeying toward Jerusalem' (v.22). When his followers saw Christ preaching so freely in every town, and people thronging after Him with expressions of hope, it seemed almost incredible to think that only a very few of them would be saved.

Now mark how our Saviour solved this riddle: "And he said unto them, Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able" (v.24). Christ said His disciples were measuring by a wrong rule. If following after sermons and testimonies and excitement were enough to save, heaven would already be full, He was saying. 'But do not sift the pure from the impure by such a coarse sieve. Strive to enter - fight and wrestle, risk life and limb rather than fall short of heaven. 'For many shall seek, but shall not be able' - that is, they are looking for a cheap religion through an easy profession.

Almost anyone is willing to walk through heaven's door if he never has to risk his pride in public or hazard his everyday interests by any inconvenience or opposition of the world. But 'they shall not be able' to enter because their hearts are not willing to strive even unto blood. If we take the standard to be striving, not merely seeking, then the number of Christian soldiers will shrink, like Gideon's army, to a little troop. In fact there are several kinds of Christians - called that in a very broad sense of course - who have never put on the gospel shoe and are therefore sure to falter along the way.

DIRECTIONS FOR WEARING THE SPIRITUAL SHOE

Pray for a Suffering Spirit

This is not a common gift which carnal church-goers have - it is a peculiar favor which God bestows on only a few sincere souls: 'Unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him but also to suffer for his sake' (Phil. 1:29).

Pray, then for a suffering spirit for Christ's sake. Saints need to plead earnestly with God for this gift because suffering work does not come into our minds naturally. The flesh loves to be pampered, not crucified. It costs many groaning hours in prayer before we can give ourselves to suffering - but the man who learns to wrestle with God need never fear the face of danger and death. Prayer brings God's strength and wisdom. And what is too hard for the man who has God on his side? We are told to 'count it all joy' when we fall into temptations - not temptations to sin but for righteousness (James 1:2). And let me assure you - if Christ leads you into this temptation, He stands ready to carry you all the way through it. Therefore 'if any of you' especially suffering people - 'lack wisdom, ask God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him' (v.5).

William Gurnall, Puritan, 1616-1679, from The Christian in Complete Armour, Vol. 2